so this one is a little bit longer....
“Willow!” Tara admonished her girlfriend shocked.
“What?” the redhead answered stubborn. “I only fulfilled her wish. She asked for it.” She crossed her arms and pouted. “There’s no harm in a little wish.” Willow mumbled before she grabbed a Kleenex to blow her nose. “and I wish for softer Kleenex. Is my nose red?” She held her nose out toward Tara.
“I like your nose.” The blonde answered kissing it. “If we had winter you could go as Rudolph.” Tara snickered.
“Hey. Be nice to the sick.” Willow pulled up her nose and leaned back. “They have biological weapons. And they will use them.” Willow threw her used Kleenex at her girlfriend.
Tara ducked and the ‘weapon’ missed her. “Don’t shoot the storyteller.” The blonde admonished her lover. “Who will finish the story if I’m knocked out?” She picked up the Kleenex and threw it into the garbage.
“I could.” Willow insisted and wiggled her red nose. “I know exactly how it will end.” She took a deep breath to continue but then she stopped, her mind working at high speed. “You’re not sick now. You can tell it.”
As Clare pulled back the dark green ivy that covered the tunnels entrance and stepped outside. After the dark tunnels were only illuminated by a small candlelight the bright sun-rays hit her unyieldingly. She grimaced and closed her eyes as she stepped into the daylight.
Behind her closed lids the sudden flash of light danced on her retina, reminding her of the dizziness she felt only minutes ago. She took a deep breath and ordered herself to forget the whole morning. The castle and everything that happened laid behind her. Here was another place, another life and she didn’t want to mix them. A new life lay before her and she would take it. And hold onto it with everything she had.
She could leave everything behind just like she did with the lady-in-waiting. Her mood lightened and she had to suppress a giggle as she remembered the astonished look on the brunette’s face as she just left her without answering to her question. She had been tempted to turn around to watch what the other woman was doing but she held herself back. It would have been an invitation for her to bother her again. A risk she couldn’t take.
She blinked a few times to adapt to the change of light and shield her eyes with her hand.
It was an unusual warm day for early autumn. But even the new found warmth couldn’t prevent the trees from turning their leafs from green into the different autumn-colors. The world was changing. She inhaled deeply. The fresh, odorless air filled her lungs and rushed through her blood in every part of her body. It cleared her mind and soul and with every breath she took she felt lighter.
The first yellow, red and brown leafs already covered the ground. As a little girl she never had been able to resist to shuffle through them. And the same urge returned now whispering into her ear. Carefully she looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Wherever Tasha was waiting for her it wasn’t here. The blonde hadn’t been precise in her description where to meet her. ‘Outside’ was a stretchable word. It had been whispered often into her ear when they had met briefly at a floor or a room in the castle. Sometimes in thread of being caught in an intimate moment the word had been formed silently by one of them. And every time the word had sent an electrifying shiver through her, from head to toes.
‘Outside’ had meant outside the tunnel. Right here. Most of the time. Sometimes they had already met on their way there in the library or in the tunnel. She frowned. Tasha should be here by now but maybe she had been held up.
She could wait. And in the meantime she could make the best out of it and give into her urge. Countless times as a child she had sneaked into the garden to watch the colorful leafs in the trees. And she had waited for them to fall to the ground more than once tempered to help out. Once her small hands had grabbed the thick trunk and she had shaken it. Back then she had been to small and the trees to thick to have any success.
Weeping she had returned in Nana’s open arms explaining to her between sobs why she was so upset. The nurse had wiped her nose and had rocked her in her lap and had promised her that tomorrow there would be enough leafs for her to play with. And she had believed her. Nana had never disappointed her.
Clare had never found out how the old woman had managed it but the next morning right after she had woken up she had run into the garden, still in her nightgown. What she had found there had let her stand there in wonder, her eyes wide and her mouth open.
There wasn’t a single leaf left at the trees. But the ground was covered in brown, yellow and red. Not a single straw was visible between the leafs.
It had been one of the happiest days in her young life. For hours she jumped and shuffled through the leaf-sea dived into it, threw it up and showered in it.
Today only a few leafs covered the ground but it was enough to remind her of the long forgotten good feeling. And it was enough to shuffle through them.
Clare felt free and happy.
She closed her eyes, stretched her arms like she wanted to embrace the whole world and started to spin around. Faster and faster.
A clear chuckle coming from above her caused her to stop in mid-motion. She turned around following the lovely sound. She would recognize that laugh everywhere.
“Tasha.” She exhaled the name of her lover. Clare looked back at the tunnel but no sight of her lover. But she wasn’t in the forest either. She frowned and bit her lower lip. She had been sure to hear her laugher. Maybe the hit on her head from her earlier encounter had been more serious than she thought. She touched her head in search for a wound. But besides a small bump she couldn’t feel anything.
“Up here.” She wasn’t dreaming. And now she knew which direction she had to look for.
“What are you doing up there?” Clare asked her girlfriend after she had found her sitting at a ledge next to the tunnel entrance.
“Watching you.” The blonde answered from above, a big smile covering her features. “I liked the spinning around.” Tasha grinned and whirled her finger around.
Clare put her hands on her hips and pouted. “That’s unfair. I thought I was alone. That was a ‘I’m alone so nobody can embarrass me’-action and such an action includes no-one to watch. But your a ‘one’.”
“I hope I’m a one and not a no-one.” Tasha answered from her safe place out of reach.
“Come down.” Clare ordered, tapping with her foot but Tasha shook her head.
“I feel fine up here.” She answered and stuck out her tongue.
“Then I’ll have to come up and get you.” The princess decided with a mischievous grin. Her hands reached up but even tiptoed she didn’t reach the ledge. A frown showed itself on her face as she searched for a another way to her lover.
“I’m not a squirrel.” She jumped up but even then she couldn’t reach Tasha. “Serious climbing then.” She muttered to herself as she pushed up her sleeves and looked for a save foothold.
Carefully she placed her foot at a small ledge and clung her fingers into the rock. But when she tried to pull herself up, her foot slipped. ”Ouch.” Clare grimaced in pain and shook her right hand to get rid of the burning sensation. She blow at her palm and prepared herself for another try.
“Take this.” Her lover’s voice stopped her before she could try again. Clare looked up to see a basket been handed down to her.
She took it, the basket heavy in her arms. Clarissa tried to get a view of the goodies inside but a blanket laid over the possible goodies prevented further investigations. She was about to lift it when Tasha stopped her.
“Hey.” The blonde called out. “Stop this.” Her hands placed on her hips, she stood at the rock, looking down at her girlfriend disapprovingly.
“Who will stop me? You’re up there.” The princess grinned. “And I’m down here. All alone. By myself….“ A mischievous smile played around the redhead’s lips. “And this little really heavy basket.” Playfully she swung the basket back and forth. “Looks like I’ll have a very private picnic. Just me and all the goodies in there.” She rocked up and down.
“Poor princess.” Tasha laughed.
“In fact I’m. I came here to see my girlfriend and all I’ve got is this basket. I hope there are enough sugary pleasures in there to compensate my disappointment.” She sniffed and made big puppy-eyes at the girl on the rock. “Have you seen her?”
The girl on the rock tilted her head to the right and nibbled at her lower lip. “Let me think. Hmmm. What does she look like?”
“She’s a little bit taller than you, has gorgeous hips and a waist just the right size to wrap my arms around her from behind. Then her whole body melts perfectly into mine. And that little sigh that escapes her throat when I nibble at her earlobe before I rest my head on her shoulder sends a shiver down my spine. Her hair is like honey in the sunshine and I have to keep my tongue from sneaking out to taste it. But she tastes way better than honey. The sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. But you don’t get sick from too much of this goody. There is no tummy rumbling like I get when I’ve eaten too much of Nana’s cookies. There’s just the desire to eat more and more.”
Clare smiled when she saw the deep crimson covering Tasha’s face. Her green eyes searched that of the blonde. When they met Clare could see the blue of Tasha’s eyes turn dark with desire. They gazed at each other in silence before Tasha broke the bond and dropped her head in embarrassment. There was a small pain in Clarissa’s heart the second the blonde’s face vanished behind her golden hair.
“And she has eyes that look right into your soul and capture it forever.” Clare continued. Her smile grew bigger when she saw Tasha peeking up from behind her cover. “Her soul touches you and tucks you in to keep you warm and safe. Sometimes I’m afraid that she is too good to be real. That she’s an angel walking on earth only for a small time . That she leave’s me behind when heaven calls her back.”
“I could never leave you.” Tasha whispered hardly audible.
The blonde looked intensively at the princess. Suddenly without warning Tasha jumped down from the rock.
A shriek escaped Clare’s throat and she stepped forward to catch her girlfriend.
For the second time this day Clarissa found herself lying on the ground. But this time she held a precious treasure in her arms.
“Never do that again.” Clare pulled the blonde closer. She could feel Tasha’s heart-beat against her chest, her own heart beating in synchronicity. “Heights are dangerous.” Her hand sneaked out and tugged a strain of golden hair behind her ear.
The blonde on top of her laughed. “Clare, honey, it wasn’t that high and I landed soft. Very soft.” She whispered.
Clare gulped audible when Tasha’s lips parted and her pink tongue darted out to wet them.
“Are you alright?” Tasha asked concerned and moved to get off the redhead. “Did I hurt you? Where? I, I’ m sorry. Can you move?”
“Shhhh.” Clare placed a finger on Tasha’s lips to stop her. “I’m fine. More than fine if you stay right where you are.”
Tasha tilted her head and watched Clare seriously. After a while a half-grin appeared. She bent down and kissed Clare.
“Ahhh that’s how I love my girls.” The redhead moaned contently when Tasha continued her kissing, her mouth traveling along the princess’s neck.
“Girls?” The blonde stopped and looked up.
Yeah, but you’re my favorite.” Clarissa breathed. There wasn’t enough air in her lungs to form a whole sentence. “Don’t stop.” She whined with closed eyes. “I’ll give up all the others. Every single one. Just for you. I love you.”
There was no other sound than that of the wind playing with the colorful leafs.
Clare opened her eyes to find her lover gazing at her lovingly. A hand parted Clarissa’s red hair and she leaned into the touch. Every single finger burned trough her scalp right into her mind. She couldn’t think of anything but the soft touches of her lover.
“I love you, too.” Tasha settled on her arms to get a better look at her girlfriend.
“I know, I have the proof. In black and white.” Clare grinned.
“I have a bad handwriting.” Tasha blushed again.
“No. It’s the most wonderful writing I’ve ever seen.” Clare insisted. Seeing the embarrassment returning to her lover’s face Clarissa changed the subject. “So what have you planned? Or was this all? Jumping your girlfriend? I’m not that cheep. At least I want lunch.”
“Would a picnic be enough?” Tasha stood up. Immediately Clarissa’s body missed the heaviness of the blonde’s body on top of her. Glad for at least a small touch she accepted the outstretched hand to pull her up.
To Clarissa’s delight they had walked to the small apple grove where they had spent their first night together. Only now Clarissa wondered why they had never come back to this place. It was as wonderful at day as it was at night.
Although the season had changed it looked the same. It were the same old trees they had walked under in that clear night.
Involuntarily she snatched her arm around Tasha’s waist and pulled the blonde closer. She buried her face into the honey colored hair and inhaled deeply. Her lover’s scent mingled with the smell of the apple trees.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been here.” Tasha voiced her thoughts. “But I thought…” Her feet shuffled trough the long grass. “For the last time… we….. uhmmm.”
“It’s a wonderful idea.” Clare answered, eliciting a smile from her girlfriend. “Let’s find our tree.” She took Tasha’s hand and pulled her along with her.
Hand in hand they walked through the grove. Clare remembered every single moment of the first night they spent together. Even with closed eyes she would find their tree. How couldn’t she. They had lain under it for hours watching the stars through its top.
Lovingly her finger traced the deep lines the years had dig into the bark. “It’s so old.” She whispered.
“Can we have an apple grove?” She turned around and asked Tasha.
The blonde had already spread out the blanket and was busy unpacking the basket. She looked up from her work and smiled. “Maybe we should find a place to stay first.”
“Oh that’s easy.” Clare answered and plopped down onto the blanket next to the blonde. “We’ll go south. There are a lot of small hidden villages. Far out of my mother’s reach. I’m sure we can buy a little farm. I’ve collected enough gold. It’s in my dresser under my under-dresses. It’s enough for a farm. I’ve asked Nana how much money it would cost. Right now we have enough money for three farms. And we’ll have enough left for some chickens, sheep and cows.” Her hands waved wild through the air. “Oh, we could buy a cow like Louis. First I thought about buying him and taking him with us. But we can’t direct attention to us. And a redhead traveling with a beautiful blonde and a cow would be conspicuous. But I want a cow that looks exactly like him. I could teach it little tricks. It could be our watchcow.”
“Watchcow?” Tasha interrupted her.
“It could go moo when a suspicious stranger roams around.” Clare explained seriously.
Tasha covered her mouth and tried to suppress her giggling. “Honey, I’m not sure there’s something like a watchcow.”
“Just because no-one ever tried. We’ll be the first ones.” Clare insisted. “I’ll teach it.”
Tasha watched her lover carefully. Her green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and her cheeks had reddened in anticipation. In Clarissa’s mind their future was spread out firmly. There was no swaying, no uncertainty.
The blonde leant toward her lover and kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you.” She whispered.
“You’re welcome. But for what?” Clarissa asked confused. She reached for Tasha’s hand and brushed over the blonde’s knuckles.
“For a future.” The witch swallowed as tears dwelled up in her eyes.
The princess frowned. “Don’t cry.” She pleaded. She had wanted to show her lover the great future that laid ahead of them. It was a happy, carefree future without tears of sorrow. “I promise you there will never be a reason for you again to cry. I’ll take care of this. Only laughter and happiness.” She proclaimed as she wiped away the first tear.
“But I’m happy. More than happy.”
“More than happy?” Clare shook her head. “What’s better than being happy?” She asked unsure.
“I feel complete.” Their eyes met and Clarissa could feel the love emanating from the clear blue eyes that looked at her. Against her own will a big grin formed on her face.
“Then ‘come’ here.” She said and pulled the blonde down with her to lay on the blanket. Clarissa laid on her back and pulled Tasha even closer as the blonde rested her head onto Clare’s shoulder and spooned her from beside. Every night when they took the same position Clarissa was amazed how good they fit together. They were made for each other. Tasha was right, only together they were complete in body and mind. The well known weight of Tasha’s leg over hers was a further evidence. This was a burden she would carry happily through her life.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft feeling of Tasha’s hair gliding through her fingers. She sighed as Tasha began to draw little circles on her stomach. With every turn the delicate finger took, Clare relaxed a little bit more.
“You’re thin, you should eat more.” Tasha’s finger stopped her caress.
“I forgot to eat.” Clarissa answered.
“What happened?” Tasha asked.
“It isn’t important anymore.” Clarissa claimed. She didn’t want to lose the calm that flooded her for the first time this day.
But Tasha didn’t give up. She extricated herself from Clarissa’s embrace and propped on her elbow to get a clearer look at her lover’s face. “I’ve seen your look when you drove away from the church. And it wasn’t a ‘nothing’ look it was more a ‘help me I’m trapped’ look.”
Clarissa still had her eyes closed. She knew if she opened them and saw the concerned look on her lover’s face she wouldn’t be able to ignore the events any longer. But as long as she didn’t voice them, she could pretend that they weren’t real.
She didn’t want them to intrude this haven. In the grove time stood still. Here she could cherish the illusion to be free already. Her dreams and hopes were more real here they won substance. And in wording them, they turned into more than just a daydream she had for the last two weeks. They were getting real, granting her a glimpse of what to come.
A gentle caress at her temple brought her back from her brooding. “You know, you can tell me everything. I can hear them rummaging through your little head.” The caress was replaced by a soft kiss.
“Are they’re this loud? I thought I had them tied up and gagged.” Clare mumbled. “They want to announce the engagement.” It was out. She had voiced them but she was still in the grove with Tasha. No guards came to bring her back to the castle. But just to be careful she didn’t open her eyes.
“What?” Tasha sat up with a jerk. “When?”
“Next Sunday at the church.” Clarissa could sense her lover standing up. Without looking she knew that the blonde paced up and down in front of the blanket. She sighed and opened her eyes. They weren’t alone any longer.
“It doesn’t matter.” She tried to calm Tasha down. She reached out for the blonde but the blonde didn’t take the offered hand but at least she stopped her pacing.
“How can you say that? Your mother’s selling you to the Count and you? You act like that’s nothing.” Little red marks covered Tasha’s face. Clare knew she had to do something or her girlfriend would panic.
“I won’t be there in the wedding night. Or at the ceremony the day before. Let alone the day before, or the week before. I won’t even be there for the engagement announcement.” She giggled and wiggled with her toes. “My mother can marry him if she loves him that much. My father is seldom here and I’m sure he wouldn’t even notice another man in her bed.” She shuddered at her own thoughts. “Scary place.” She raised her hands in self-defense. “So a nono.” Her hair flew around as she shook her head vehemently.
“Don’t joke about it.” Tasha whispered. “The Count is dangerous. Don’t underestimate him.”
Clare shook her shoulders. “I won’t be here to worry about him. We’ll be far, far away. Out of their reach. Forever.”
“Honey. You’ll have to be careful around him.” Tasha repeated.
Suddenly Clare’s features darkened. “I won’t have to worry because I won’t be around him. Right?” She didn’t like the fear she saw in Tasha’s eyes. It was the same fright she’d seen when she had found Tasha beaten up.
“What’s wrong?” she asked alarmed.
“Nothing…. But….” Tasha started.
“What ‘but’? I’m not good with the ‘buts’. I can take ‘ands’ and ‘ors’ but I’m bad with ‘buts’. Do you realize that after a ‘but’ only bad things happen? Like when I was five and Nana told me that I could whish anything for my birthday-party but that I had to learn riding because my father whished for it. And then that beast snapped at me. I swore back then that I would never get near one of them again. Except for once but then it brought me to you. Okay one good ‘but’ but there are so many bad ‘buts’……” Tasha raised her hand to stop her.
“Just…” The blonde considered her next words before she continued. “Be careful around him.”
The redhead sighed relieved. “He’s a pain in the ass.” She waved her hand dismissively and leaned back.
“Hey princess watch your mouth.” Tasha answered in mocked seriousness.
“I have to adapt to my surroundings or otherwise we’ll attract attention. I’ll be no longer a princess but one of the people. So I have to talk like them. I have a little book with notes how to talk. After every night I wrote them down and learned them.”
Tasha laughed. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Is this a compliment?” Clare teased, happy that the serious moment had passed.
“Oh yes.” The blonde breathed as she returned to her place next to the princess. With Tasha in her arms Clare relaxed again. They stayed silent for a moment before Tasha spoke.
“Clare?”
“Yes?” The princess mumbled half asleep.
“Tell me more about our farm. Will we have a grove?” Tasha asked in a tiny voice.
“Of course we will.” She kissed Tasha’s head. ”We’ll have the biggest, most reddish apples in the whole country. And every full moon we’ll walk through our grove and collect herbs.”
“With our watchcow?”
“Yep, can’t go out without a watchcow to watch over you.”
tbc....
by eccentrictulip » Sun Jul 14, 2002 6:39 pm 
sounds cold. hey but i would love to snowboard there. be kinda cool. new slops. sorry.lol anyways...whens the next update? no pressure, just wondering. i can't wait for it. 
at: 7/31/02 2:16:30 pm
too much laughter....